Guild supports Lamy Group's call for doubling the budget for research and innovation

Brussels, Belgium - The Lamy Report, published on 3 July, makes a strong argument for the next Framework Programme (FP9) to comprise a budget of between €120bn and €160bn. The Guild welcomes the Report’s strong commitment to research and innovation as central to Europe’s future.

The report aligns with many of the Guild’s core demands for FP9, including:

Further strengthening support for fundamental research through ERC and MSCA.

Alignment of mission-driven research with the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN.

Full integration of the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) in mission-driven research, as well as the introduction of missions concentrating on social concerns that will be led by SSH (including social innovation).

Taking ambitious steps in simplifying FP9, and making it more attractive and user-friendly to participants.

The Report’s central concerns – developing the innovation ecosystem, educating students, and engaging with citizens – link to fundamental aspects of the role of universities. Over the next few months, our network of research-intensive universities will continue working with the Commission to ensure the prominence in FP9 of frontier-led research, and of innovation that supports all dimensions of citizens’ welfare. We also look forward to contributing to making sure that excellent science is strengthened across all parts of Europe, including in regions with weaker performance in framework programmes. We support the Report’s push for Open Science and Open Innovation, as we look forward to contributing to the debate for how to best engage with our citizens through research, innovation and education.

At the 3 July conference, during which the Lamy Report was presented, Commissioner Moedas emphasised that we all have an important role in ensuring that the significance of research and innovation is understood by decision-makers as being central to the future of Europe. We will gladly accept his invitation to ‘speak up’ about the future of research and innovation, and we encourage citizens, universities, businesses and NGOs to join us.